Northeast had a random search of lockers, backpacks and cars on Feb. 20, and David Duren-Sanner, an 18-year-old honor student, was suspended after a fishing knife was found wedged between the seat of his dad's vehicle. Duren-Sanner did not know the fishing knife was in the car, because it belonged to his father - a commercial fisherman in Alaska.

Duren-Sanner was suspended for 10 days and reprimanded to the alternative school for 90 days. He was also charged by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office with possessing a prohibited weapon.

The senior, who has never been in trouble, may not be able to attend his prom orgraduation, and the discipline taken has outraged his family and friends.

Peggy Duren, the grandmother of David Duren-Sanner, did not return messages Tuesday afternoon and could not be reached for comment before press time Tuesday night.

In a Facebook message to The Leaf-Chronicle, she said, " (It was) explained to me, they don't have any control over extenuating circumstances and have to follow format (no) matter what, even if the kid is innocent and the circumstances were not of his making," she wrote.

"He did not have a knife at school, in his backpack, or his locker. He drove his dad's car to school and his dad left his fishing knife in the locked car. I am just devastated as to what this may do to this promising young man's future."

Duren-Sanner said in a written statement to the school that he got in trouble for having a knife in his car, and the car formerly belonged to his father. His father gave him the car when he bought a truck.

"I did not know the knife was in there and I am sure it is my father's, but the officer said it did not matter since it was in my possession," the statement said. "However it is not mine and I did not know it was in there nor would I use it for a weapon if I knew."

Jesse Gifford, a longtime family friend, began a petition on Change.org over the weekend, and so far it has collected more than 6,500 signatures and is one of the fastest-growing petitions in Tennessee, according to Mark Anthony Dingbaum, communications manager for Change.org.

Gifford said in her petition that the zero tolerance policy may ruin David Duren-Sanner's future.

"I've known David's family for about twenty years - that's before he was even born. He's always been a good kid studying hard, going to church, and respecting the rules. It's unfortunate that the school system and sheriff may ruin this boy's future because he borrowed his dad's truck to go to school," Gifford said.

"Let's hope they listen to the thousands of people who have signed my Change.org petition and exercise some common sense so the kid can get back to school like he deserves."

From CMCSS

Elise Shelton, spokeswoman for the CMCSS, said Duren-Sanner's family signed paperwork that allows CMCSS to discuss the disciplinary ruling publicly.

She stressed that David Duren-Sanners was not disciplined under the zero tolerance policy.

"Possession of a knife is not a Zero Tolerance offense according to state law," Shelton said. "There seems to be some misinformation that it is considered such."

She said he was disciplined for breaking school policy and state law.

Shelton said during a random and routine search, an officer did a plain view search of the student's car and saw a knife between the seat and console.

"In the student's statement, he wrote that the car 'formerly belonged to my father?who gave it to me after he bought a truck.' The student denied knowing the knife was in the vehicle. It was recommended that the student be suspended 10 days and remanded to the Alternative School for 90 days," Shelton said. "All students may appeal disciplinary recommendations, and those students have the right to due process where testimony and evidence are given. And whenever a senior has some type of disciplinary action, we always work with our seniors to help them graduate. The appeal hearing is Wednesday morning."

A private hearing for David Duren-Sanner will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System office at 621 Gracey Ave.

About Cold Case: Muncie

Debuting in 2010, Cold Case: Muncie is a recurring Star Press series that re-examines unsolved murders — some notable, some forgotten except to the family and friends of the victims — from the Muncie area over the past several decades.

The series, by Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon, won the award for best news series in 2011 from the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists. An initial cold case story, marking the 25th anniversary of the Westside Park murders in 2010, won the 2011 Kent Cooper Award from the Indiana Associated Press.